Which method of pest control involves altering the environment to make it less hospitable to pests?

Cultural control is the method of pest control that focuses on modifying the environment to create conditions that are less suitable for pests. This can involve practices such as crop rotation, adjusting planting times, changing irrigation methods, and managing soil health. By implementing these changes, you can disrupt the life cycles of pests and reduce their populations without relying solely on chemical treatments.

This method is seen as an effective and sustainable approach because it not only helps in managing pests but also promotes overall ecological health. For instance, rotating crops can prevent pests that thrive on a specific plant from becoming established, while improving biodiversity in the area can introduce natural predators that keep pest numbers in check.

In contrast, mechanical control involves physical methods to remove or exclude pests, biological control uses other living organisms to suppress pest populations, and chemical control relies on pesticides to eliminate pests. While each of these methods has its place in pest management strategies, cultural control specifically targets environmental modifications to deter pests effectively.